Diets

Blood Group Diet

The blood group diet is also called the blood type diet. And yes, you guessed it right, this is a weight loss program that is based on the persons blood type. This sounds crazy for some people because they can not seem to see the connection between dieting and blood type. However, advocates of this diet can testify how great its effects are. Will this also help you lose weight? Is there really a logic behind the blood group diet? Apparently, there is. Here are the information that you need to know about blood group diet:

The Basics of the Blood Group Diet

This weight loss program is pioneered by Dr. Peter D’Adamo and he initially introduced it through his book entitled, “Eat Right for Your Blood Type”. It may have roused doubt initially but the moment that Hollywood starts and prominent celebrities started to back up the diet’s claims, this then turned to a major buzz.

To understand it easier, Dr. D’Adamo justifies that each blood type has a different antigen marker which determines how the body will react and process certain nutrients. Hence, it is necessary to tailor the diet according to the blood type of the person. That way, the body can be programmed to absorb certain nutrients much better and allow efficient weight loss.

The blood group diet is not all about inventing a whole new program. Yes, it designates specific types of food according to the person’s blood type but it is all a matter of knowing which ones to eat and which ones to avoid.

photo credit: flickr.com/Bruno Soares

Interestingly, another principle of the blood group diet is that the diet should be based on the
blood type of our ancestors. Dr. D’Adamo believes that our blood types have gone multiple evolutions over the centuries and to ensure that the diet would work, it is important to consider the original types of blood.

Diet for Blood Type O

The goal of people with blood type O is to indulge in foods which have high amount of protein and low in carbohydrates. This is similar to the diet that hunter-gatherer ancestors follow. Hence, the daily diet should be concentrated more on lean meat and fish. Even if dairy products are rich in protein, these are not recommended because of high amount of carbs.

Diet for Blood Type B

People with this blood type would not such a hard time because there are more varieties of food which can be eaten. Our ancestors who are constant travelers have this type of blood. So, the only concern is to eat a balanced diet regularly and stay away from those which have been heavily processed and chemically induced.

Diet for Blood Type A

This is based on our ancestors who focused on farming. People with this type of blood should eat more grain products, fruits and vegetables. Meat is not recommended because this is not easily processed by the digestive system.

Diet for Blood Type AB

It is recommended to eat more vegetables and fruits for people with this type of blood type. Basically, the diet should be a combination of the recommended food for people with blood type A and blood type B. However, since leaning more on vegetarian diet results to more efficient weight loss, eating fish and meat should be regulated too.

HCG Diet Review

The HCG diet is making a big buzz in the health and fitness world these days. Since people are always in a constant search for the easiest and most effective ways on how to lose weight, this is becoming more and more popular. The fame is primarily because of the amazing results that others have experienced. Is this the diet that you have long been waiting for?

Before jumping into the HCG diet, it is best to have a deeper understanding about this program first. That way, you would not end up jeopardizing your health just because you are aiming to lose some extra pounds. HGC stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin which is the hormone that is naturally produced by the body when a woman is pregnant. Today, this hormone is used to speed up weight loss.

The injection which is included in the HCG diet should be administered by a trusted clinic. It is imperative to ensure first that your health status is fit for this weight loss method. You have to understand that this is not available over the counter. That is why, you personally have to be cautious before opting for this weight loss method.

Aside from the hormone injection, the diet also involves strict eating program which significantly cuts the amount of calorie intake everyday. This means that you would need to monitor the food that you eat daily such that your total calories for the day would only sum up to 500-800. So why do you need the shots if you will be going through a strict meal plan anyway?

The key benefit of the HCG injection is that it acts as an appetite suppressant. For people who find it difficult to stay away from sweets and carbo-loaded food, this is the solution. Plus, you will have less urge to eat more than you are supposed to.

It is important to opt for an HCG diet program which also includes sufficient amount of exercise. Aside from allowing you to lose weight faster, this will also help in keeping regular heartbeat, balancing the electrolytes in the body and pumping up the energy level.

This type of weight loss option is recommended only for people who need to dramatically lose weight due to serious case of obesity. For others who merely need to shed a few pounds or maintain their current weight, this option might not be the perfect one.

Some clinics claim that this diet could result to weight loss of up to 2 pounds per day especially when done in combination with proper exercise and rigid dieting. However, it has to be considered that different types of body can have varying weight loss capacity. For those who do not suffer extreme obesity, 1 to 2 pounds of weight reduction per week is the safest. The best thing to do is to consult a physician before undergoing this type of diet to be able to avoid possible side effects. Another precaution is that pregnant women should not take the shots or go through the diet. If a woman becomes pregnant in the process, the HCG diet should be stopped immediately.

Pros and Cons of the Lemonade Diet

There are pros and cons with every type of diet and the Lemonade Diet is no different in that respect. Below are the positive and negative effects of this diet:

Pros:

Lose a lot of weight in a short period of time

For people who have been advised to get weight off for health reasons or because they have finally had enough of their weight, the Lemonade Diet represents a quick start for their campaign. It is possible to get rid of tens of pounds in thirty days of the Lemonade Diet, and even in the minimum time recommended, which is ten days; participants have reported losses of more than 10lbs.

It delivers what it promises

It is important to note that the Lemonade Diet is not a long term regime, but it does what it says on the tin for short periods and can assist people with a lot to lose get a confidence boost for losing weight effectively. It has been used successfully by a number of celebrities, including Beyoncé who famously lost an amazing 22 lbs in 10 days. The fact that it has been around for 50 years suggests the Lemonade Diet has worked for thousands of people, and in fact it follows in the tradition of short periods of fasting and cleansing which has been an accepted health practice in ancient cultures for many thousands of years

Cons:

Lack of calories

Not having the usual number of calories can cause people to initially feel faint and fatigued, and if the Lemonade Diet is continued long term there may be some loss of muscle as the body uses up energy from wherever it can. Eating vastly reduced calories for long periods means that when the dieter starts eating ‘normally’ again they may tend to put on weight much quicker as the body stores calories more easily in case a starvation situation comes up again. This is why proponents of the Lemonade Diet say you should only follow it for short periods.

Loss of healthy bacteria from the gut

Critics of the Lemonade Diet say that the saltwater flush element of the program is detrimental to the health of the digestive system, in that all the good bacteria are washed out of the bowel as well as toxic material. Good bacteria are essential for breaking down food and keeping everything moving on its way, so without it, unwelcome toxins can build up again. For this reason is it important to replace the good bacteria with suitable supplements and a healthy diet after the Lemonade Diet saltwater flushes take place.
Stopping suddenly can cause problems

The advice on the Lemonade Diet is always to start eating food slowly, rather than loading up with large meals as soon as the period of the diet is over. Having a huge meal straight after the Lemonade Diet is likely to cause indigestion and possible nausea or vomiting. So the advice is to take it slowly, introducing small, healthy meals, and follow a balanced diet thereon in. Going back to old ways of too much sugar, fat, salt and chemically processed food will not sit well with a digestive system which has been thoroughly cleansed on the Lemonade Diet.

Keto Diet Review

The keto diet is also known as the ketogenic diet. This is different from the usual fad diets these days because it does not involve extreme starvation, bland meals and programs which can deplete your energy. Interestingly, this type of diet will allow you to enjoy meals with high amount of healthy fat but with low calorie content. Can this eating program really help you lose weight?

Ketosis State

The keto diet will trigger your body to be in a ketosis state. This means that the liver works overtime in converting the fat into fatty acids and ketones. In effect, fat will be used up as the primary source of energy.

Since the diet involves low amount of calories from meals, your body would need to use up alternative source of energy which will sustain your day to day activities. Hence, you will naturally be able to release ketones from fat which results to weight reduction.

Positive Effects

The keto diet is efficient when it comes to removing those extra pounds and unwanted flab in your body. The plus side with this diet is that it does not only burn fats. It also helps in packing the body with leaner and stronger muscles. Because of this, even body builders opt for this type of diet because while trimming excess fat, they are able to develop stronger muscles.

Precaution

Since this diet involves high amount of fat and drastic calorie intake reduction, it is best to consult a physician first before undergoing the program. That way you can ensure that your body is able to handle the changes in your eating pattern.

Foods to avoid

Since your main goal is to lower the amount of calories that you take in everyday, this means that you need to stay away from particular types of food if you want to see the positive results of this method. Your meals should not include bread, cereals, pasta, rice or potatoes.

It is also important to keep in mind that your body will also break down sugar as carbohydrate. Hence, stay away from soda, candy and desserts. Do not be quick to assume that all fruits and vegetables are okay to eat because most of these contain natural sugar too. For example, ripe bananas have high amount of sugar. Carrot will also ruin your diet because of the carbohydrates that it has.

Foods to eat

Eating lean meat is also encouraged when going through the keto diet. Beef and fish are ideal especially when it is fresh and hormone-free. When buying meat, make sure that the cut has excellent quality so that your diet would give you the results that you are expecting. Eating more fish is ideal since this does not only give you the amount of protein that your body needs, it also supplies the body with Omega 3 fatty acids which is good for your heart.

When altering your usual diet, it is typical to experience constipation. Hence, it is important to drink more than 8 glasses of water daily. This will aid in digestion and also helps your body to adjust faster to your new eating habit. If you want to lose weight faster, it is recommended to do keto diet while exercising on a daily basis.

You may also refer to this post about losing weight with ketosis diet for more information.

What is the ABC Diet?

The ABC diet is an extreme weight loss diet program that many have taken interest in. As losing weight has always been a popular topic especially among women, this diet program naturally attracted curiosity.

ABC diet overview

Furthermore, known as the Ana Boot Camp Diet, this program involves a pro-anorexia regimen for losing weight. This is different from the anorexic diet though. The idea is to restrict the individual’s calorie intake for a set number of days. It has created a lot of buzz as proponents argue that anorexia can be a viable weight loss option. ABC diet works on the strategy that one’s metabolism can be tricked through consuming varying calorie levels every day. The 50-day diet plan aims to slow down the body’s metabolism to its most extreme state.

How the ABC Diet works

The ABC diet is best followed by plotting required calorie intake on a chart. On the first week, the individual is required to take a maximum of 500 calories each on the first two days. The maximum calorie requirement would then decrease to 300, 400, 100, 200 & 300 respectively on succeeding days. On the second week, calorie intake for the week shouldn’t exceed 400 & 500 on the first two days. On the third day of the second week, the individual should be fasting. The fourth and fifth day have 200 and 100 calorie restrictions accordingly. Fasting would resume on the 6th day followed by a 300 calorie requirement on the 7th day. The calorie ceiling and fasting days would differ in the remaining weeks. On the 2nd day of Week 8, the individual should slowly return to his or her normal diet.

Issues and Risks of ABC Diet

The pro-anorexia measure of the ABC diet has garnered many critics. The major argument against ABC diet is that a person’s calorie requirement should not be less than 1,200 per day. Some experts advise that such extreme control of calorie intake has tremendous risks, especially for the wrong person.

Another argument on the ABC diet plan is that the individual would just be losing water instead of fats during the whole course. Some argue that it also encourages the body to save limited calories and stock up on more body fat thus stimulating sudden weight gain.

Other side effects raised were dizziness, low blood sugar levels, fatigue and sensitivity to cold temperatures. Some studies also show that depression and paranoia can also exist during and after the program.

Support for ABC Diet

While this weight loss program has considerable side effects, it still has solid following. Those who claimed to have succeeded losing weight through the diet believe that the program has its own merits. However, it is still important to note that one’s bodily functions and needs might be different from another person. At the end of the day, it is best to consult with a doctor prior to following any pro-anorexia diet plan like the ABC diet. Anorexia is a serious eating disorder. There might be a more sustainable weight loss program that experts can recommend.

Acai Berry Diet Review

One of the most popular ways on how to regulate weight these days is the acai berry diet. Does this really work? Is this a tested method of losing weight or just another misleading method of shedding extra pounds?

Acai berry is renowned across the globe as one of the healthiest foods. This is packed with high amount of nutrients which deliver multiple benefits for the body. The main reason why this is very popular is because of its ability to aid in weight loss. Aside from contributing in weight maintenance, it also prevents aging and protects cells from free radicals. All these benefits are because of the whopping amount of anti-oxidants that it has.

Interestingly, the level of anti-oxidants that is found in acai berry exceeds the amount found in other berries like blueberries, for example. The good thing about going through an acai berry diet is that it is not all about losing weight but also aids in improving overall health.

Acai Berry Diet Review — photo credit: flickr.com/borderlys

The acai berry diet is helpful when it comes to enhancing the performance of the digestive system. This means that breaking down of food, nutrient absorption and digestion process can be performed much easier by the body. In effect, there is reduced stored fat which eliminates the tendency to form extra flab, especially the love handles.

Another effect of this diet is that it promotes cleansing and detoxifies the body. With outstanding elimination of toxins in the body, an individual is able to perform better. Hence, metabolism will also escalate which would lead to increased burning of stored fat. Faster metabolism also prevents weight gain.

Because of the extensive benefits of acai berry, another observed effect of this diet is boosted amount of energy. In effect, the calories and other nutrients from the food are used up by the body. For people who want to lose weight faster, dieting with acai berry is also the way to go because it gives the stamina and endurance that are needed for gym workout, running and other strenuous exercises.

Aside from boosting the body’s performance so that losing weight becomes easier, the other components in acai berry make it easier to control appetite. Regular intake of this wonder fruit diminishes the craving for unhealthy food and makes it easier to suppress the urge to binge. This effect is because of the combination of essential fatty acids, amino acids and phytosterols that are found in the berry.

Typically, the acai berry diet is combined with other methods of dieting. This fruit is regularly taken along with other diet programs. With the addition of acai berry on any other diet program, it would be easier to take the extra pounds off without worrying about side effects. This fruit works perfectly especially for people who are targeting for low calorie diet.

Including the fruit in meals is the ideal way of doing the acai berry diet. However, even if the fruit is unavailable within a particular location, there are also dietary supplements which can be taken regularly. These are capsules which are also loaded with the anti-oxidants and nutrients from the fruit. Taking dietary supplements can also help out in losing weight.

Does the Raw Food Diet have Negative Health effects?

The Raw Food Diet is a low calorie diet which is often followed by vegans and vegetarians, but not exclusively so. Most people follow this diet because they want to lose weight, but also because they want to improve their health and they want to have less negative impact on the environment.

Is raw food good for you?

Taking part in the Raw Food Diet can be good for you in that raw food it thought to have more natural nutrients left in them than cooked foods and by not having cooked meals you are more likely to consume fewer calories and therefore get slimmer quicker. The diet is based on a theory which has been around for over 200 years. The concept of eating food which has not been processed, irradiated, had exposure to chemicals or otherwise been altered in an unnatural way, is very attractive to people who are increasingly fed up with the quality of food available to them.

Can you lose weight eating raw food?

It has been shown that this diet generally leads people to eat around half of the calories they would normally have in a day. Eating mainly food with plant origins, people on the Raw Food Diet eat foods that are never heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Dairy is therefore unpasteurized, fish and meat are generally raw or extremely rare and organic products are preferred. Oils are cold pressed, such as olive and coconut. People following this diet consume a lot of vegetable juices, smoothies and herbal teas.

What negative effects are there?

It has been shown that far from having negative effects, eating on the Raw Food Diet actually have benefits in terms of lowering cholesterol and for heart health and blood pressure. The associated weight loss can alleviate symptoms of diabetes or prevent it occurring.

Any negative effects would occur in the area of food hygiene, where is raw foods are not washed and stored correctly, food poisoning could occur, so correct rules must be applied for looking after raw food in a safe way. It is also worth considering that the very young or the very old are sometimes more susceptible to illnesses associated with raw or very undercooked foods. Children and young people who are still growing need a balanced diet and a restricted diet such as the Raw Food Diet may not always give them everything they need.

Is it possible to have a balanced diet using raw food?

The good news about the Raw Food Diet is that the low fat aspect means good weight loss for consumers, and those that are eaten are the healthier kind, or unsaturated. For those who worry about getting enough protein, green leafy vegetables, legumes, grains and seeds are all rich sources of healthy protein. Calcium is obtained through raw foods such as kale, apricots and quinoa. The high fiber element of the Raw Food Diet is good news for those who like to feel full after their meals and fiber is very beneficial for a healthy digestive system. If you are worried about getting the full complement of nutrients on the Raw Food Diet, take a multivitamins while you are on it.

How Does the Smoothie Diet Work?

When taking part in the Smoothie Diet you have hand blended smoothies of fruits and vegetables rather than your usual meals and normally this is all you would have for up to ten days. Some people prefer to replace one or two meals a day with smoothies and then have one healthy balanced meal a day.

In terms of calories, you can decide for yourself what to put in your smoothies, depending in how quickly you expect to lose weight, but a Smoothie Diet of around 1200 calories will ensure you lose weight quickly and safely, and you will still be able to go about your daily business. Shop ahead so you have all your ingredients ready and you can take your smoothies to work or out and about with you.

Who it is the Smoothie Diet for?

The Smoothie Diet is ideal for people who need to lose quite a lot of weight in a short time and can work well for those wanting to cut down on carbohydrates. It gives your body a chance to cleanse itself after possibly years of having to deal with processed, chemically laden food, or perhaps a diet which is high in sugar and fat. The digestive system gets a rest and as a result people on the Smoothie Diet report feelings of new found energy and a healthier outlook on life.

What should you expect?

For many people who have not experienced hunger for many years, or ever, the first few days of the Smoothie Diet are a revelation. However to experience hunger for the first time in a while can be an invigorating experience and helps participants to understand that they do not need to fill their bellies all the time in order to get on with the daily requirements of life. Having a break from large unhealthy meals gives people a chance to reflect on what they are doing to their digestive systems and enables people to plan a more healthy way of life once the Smoothie Diet has come to its natural conclusion.

How should you prepare your body?

The Smoothie Diet does not involve denying the body of essential nutrients, as smoothies are generally healthy and balanced, when prepared with care. It is advised that the Smoothie Diet is introduced into your eating plan gradually, especially if you are used to a lot of meat, as you will be replacing your normal food with fruit and with vegetables for the duration of the Smoothie Diet. Gradually up the amount of fruit and vegetables you consume for about a week beforehand, rather than stopping your regular food suddenly and going straight onto the Smoothie Diet.

You should also increase the amount of water you drink every day to at 2 liters a day. Quite often people think they are hungry when actually their body craves water, so fulfil this need and drink as much water as you can. This will clear out your digestive system and make your hair and skin glow.

What happens afterwards?

Once you have been on the Smoothie Diet, you should come off it gradually and don’t suddenly introduce a high meat regime to your system, or you may experience unpleasant side effects. You should aim for small, regular, healthy meals to maintain your weight loss.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet

The rheumatoid arthritis diet can alleviate much of the intolerable effects of rheumatism. If you have been suffering from this health concern, stop taking too many pills which would only temporarily stop the pain inflammation. The worse part is that being too dependent on meds might eventually lead to other side effects. The best thing to do is to make some changes in your diet. The adjustments are just minimal but the positive effects are truly impressive.

Knowing the different types of food to eat and those which should be avoided can do miracles in solving your rheumatoid pain. That is because the rheumatoid arthritis diet will provide the vitamins and nutrients which enhance the overall health of your body. At the same time, avoiding the foods which promote joint pain, swelling and fatigue will enable you to move around more freely.

Fruits

Fruits are generally packed with a lot of nutrients and vitamins that are really useful for improving overall health. But when it comes to dealing with rheumatism, it is best to focus on fruits that have high amount of Vitamin C. Over the years, there have been studies which show that Vitamin C helps in destroying the free radicals that can trigger inflammation that worsens rheumatoid. Among the fruits which can help in preventing unwanted inflammation include mangoes, peaches, apples, cantaloupes, kiwi, strawberry and other types of berry.

Vegetables

There are also a lot of vegetables which have high amount of Vitamin C. When opting for rheumatoid arthritis diet, it is also important to focus on vegetables which are rich in Vitamin A. This can prevent the excruciating pain and swelling which makes it difficult to move around with ease. Vegetables like spinach, collard greens, sweet potatoes, squash and broccoli are the best options.

Nuts

Some people are quick to assume that all nuts should be completely avoided because this would worsen the pain and inflammation . This is not true. Nuts which have high amount of Omega 3 will actually ease the throbbing. Brazil nuts, almonds and walnuts are among the ones that you should not be afraid to include in your diet.

Seeds and Fish

Seeds and fish are also great sources of Omega 3. Not only will these lessen the intolerable pain of rheumatism, these can also help in improving the heart’s ability to pump blood all over the body. Enhanced blood circulation will also work like magic in preventing rheumatoid arthritis to strike again. For fish meat, tuna and salmon are the best ones but intake of these should also be controlled. Mackerel and sardines can also provide Omega 3. It is also recommended to snack on pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

It is not enough to ensure that the helpful fruits and vegetables are included in your rheumatoid arthritis diet. You also have to know which ones you need to stay away from. That way, your effort to control your diet would not be negated.

Instead of indulging on soda and other carbonated drinks, it is best to opt for freshly squeezed juices. Drinks with unnatural ingredients would worsen rheumatoid. The same goes for alcoholic beverages.

What not to eat

Eating red meat should also be lessened if not completely avoided. This can heighten the pain and swelling. Other foods which can pump up the acidity level in the body should also be eliminated from your rheumatoid arthritis diet.

How the Lemonade Diet Works

The Lemonade Diet involves staying away from eating food for a time, in order to lose weight. This means weight loss is rapid, and it should be noted that this diet is only meant to be followed for a short time before a balanced food intake is required.
People following the Lemonade Diet consume a drink which is made up of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. You can also have herbal teas which have a laxative effect, and participants are also supposed to do salt water flushes to get rid of toxins from their bodies.

The cleansing effect

The Lemonade Diet is based on the assumption that we all carry around a lot of waste in our digestive system and that by ridding our bowel of all that, our systems will function better and we will lose weight more easily as a result. Quite often the waste products have been in our bodies for a long time and will be hard to shift, which is why the radical Lemonade Diet advises the laxatives and flushes, to get right to the center of the reason why many people find it so difficult to lose weight in the first place. Once the body has been cleansed, then more rapid weight loss will follow.

The maple syrup provides some calories from sugar, and the lemon juice has some vitamins plus works as a diuretic to expel excess water from the body. The cayenne pepper has a cleansing effect on the bowel and stimulates the body to get rid of waste matter which may have been causing unpleasant side effects in the body for years.

Other effects on the body

photo credit: flickr.com/bobmarley753

People taking part in the Lemonade Diet say that after the initial period of getting used to the strict regime, they experience a significant lift in their energy levels and this in itself gives them the drive to go on to lose more weight. For someone who has been overweight for a long time and despaired of finding a diet which will do the trick, the Lemonade Diet can be a drastic but effective kick start for their weight loss campaign.

Who is suited to the Lemonade Diet?

People who are used to yo-yoing up and down in their weight may find the Lemonade Diet particularly helpful in giving them a boost for the first few days of their diet, before going on to a low calorie, balanced diet.

What happens during and after the diet?

The Lemonade Diet encourages a period of reflection on previous unhealthy dietary habits and gives the dieter time to plan their future wellbeing. They can spend time looking at what they have been doing to their bodies, cleanse their system, and then restart eating with a healthy regime which will take care of their bodies rather than abusing it with unhealthy food choices.
The length of time recommended for the Lemonade Diet is ten days, with many people choosing to stay on it for longer, especially if they have a lot of weight to lose and their digestive system is especially toxic. Thirty days is not unheard of in some extreme circumstances and rapid weight loss is experienced during this period.